PROMOTION BATTLES BEGIN

While the rest of the senior competition fights out R18, the first clashes of the Final Five in Divisions 3 and 4 will take place this weekend. Let’s take a look.
Division 4:
Few clubs are satisfied playing in the VAFA’s lowest senior section and the battle to emerge as a grand finalist and thus a promotee, is usually  fierce.
With Monash Gryphons having a week off due to their minor premier status, it’s four co-aspirants have a crack.
Saturday at Vermont, it’s the Cider Men of Mt Lilydale taking on Manningham Cobras in the Qualifying Final, with the winner to play the Gryphs next week.
Div 4 scribe Jumping Jimmy Sutton sees it thus:
During the year, these two sides met twice. Both were won by Mt Lilydale.
Rd 3 MtL 18.17 d MC 8.5
Rd 17 MtL 14.18 d MC 12.13
Manningham’s improvement during this season is evident from the reduced margin between these sides two meetings during the minor round. This should be a tough, physical encounter and the team that keeps their heads and settles best will go a long way towards victory.
Pretty hard to tip against a team who has only lost one match all season, Mt Lilydale to progress to another showdown next week, with Manningham to have another chance.
Sunday at Vermont, it’s the Elimination Final between South Mornington and Eley Park, with the loser to go home and the winner to challenge the loser of Saturday’s game.
They’ve only met once, and it was a close one.
Rd 7 SM 15.10 d EP 14.13
Who has the more dangerous bite, a shark or a tiger? Sounds like a good topic for a David Attenborough documentary, but we might find out the answer for ourselves this week. The Tigers won a thriller in the only meeting between the sides this season and will be keen to draw on their finals experience from last year, but the fact remains they are a very young team. The Sharks haven’t played finals for a few years but have a few older (no offence!), wiser heads who might deal with the nerves and pressure a little better. Eley Park in a nailbiter.

Division 3:
On Saturday at Sportscover, it’s Power House tackling La Trobe University in the Qualifying Final. The winner gets to meet the minor premier, St John’s, which has the weekend to observe its finals’ competitiors.
Both began the year very well, but the Pike Men fell away mid-season before returning with some real vim. The Trobers looked impregnable but the gloss has faded in recent weeks. This is anyone’s game.  Div 3 scribe J D Hibbert is going with Power House. “La Trobe has had a couple of slow weeks recently, and Power House should be feeling confident going into the weekend. Down the Nepean, the ‘House have less distance to travel, and I’m tipping an upset, the Students to get done two weeks running.”
On Sunday at Scammell, the Elimination Final pits Elsternwick against Albert Park. The Wickers looked a shot at second or third place until very late in the piece, while Albert Park scraped in on the back of their win last week. The question to be answered is whether the Bankers’ form can carry through. The Wickers will start favourite and J D Hibbert is tipping a Red and Black victory.
You should be there!